Effects of feeding different proportions of silver leaf desmodium () with banana () leaf on nutrient utilization in Horro sheep fed a basal diet of natural grass hay

Abstract

Objective The objective was to evaluate feed intake, digestibility, body weight change and carcass characteristics of sheep fed a basal diet of hay supplemented with banana leaves and silver leaf desmodium. Methods Thirty yearling lambs with an average initial body weight of 15.85±1.6 kg were grouped into six blocks of five rams in each block. The treatments were: hay alone (T1), hay+ 100% banana leaf (T2), hay+67% banana leaf+33% desmodium leaf (T3), hay+33% banana leaf+67% desmodium leaf (T4), andhay+100% desmodium leaf (T5). Three hundred grams of treatment diets were offered daily on as fed basis. The feeding and digestibility trials lasted for 84 and 7 days, respectively, followed by carcass evaluation. Results The total dry matter (DM) intake for T3, T4, and T5 were greater (p T4>T3>T2>T1. Ram lambs receiving supplementary diets had higher (p<0.05) DM, OM, CP, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber digestibility compared with the control diet. The empty body weight and slaughter weight was highest (p<0.05) in rams receiving T3, T4, and T5 diets. The average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency was highest (p< 0.05) in rams receiving the supplementary diets. The dressing percentage on the basis of hot carcass weight linearly increased with increasing levels of desmodium. Rams reared on supplementary diet had higher (p<0.05) rib eye area compared with the control diet. Conclusion In conclusion, when banana leaf is used as a supplement to poor quality grass, better body weight gain was obtained when fed in combination with desmodium.

Keywords

• Banana Leaf
• Body Weight Gain
• Feed Intake
• Horro Sheep
• Silver Leaf Desmodium